Toy fire chief



A. J. MICHAEL TOY FIRE CHIEF May 10, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 15, 1958 Fig.2

INVENTOR. AMOS J MIGHA EL y 1960 A. .1. MICHAEL 2,935,816

TOY FIRE CHIEF Filed Aug. 15, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. AMOS J. MICHAEL TOY FIRE GIMP Amos 3. Michael, Comfort, W. Va.

Application August 15, 1958, Serial No. 755,255

3 Claims. (Cl. 46-99) The present invention generally relatesto a toy and more particularly to a push type wheeled toy having an animated figurine thereon which simulates a fireman or firechief.

The primary Object of the present invention is to provide a toy which includes a bell and an animated figurine having movable legs, head and arms driven from ground engaging support wheels with one of the arms moving the bell for ringing and the other of the arms having a pair of field glasses therein for movement to a position in alignment with the eyes in the head when the head is turned in one direction about a generally vertical axis.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy in accordance with the preceding object and having a novel driving mechanism for causing movement of the figurine.

A further'object of the present invention is to provide a toy which is simple in construction, entertaining, decorated in attractive colors,'easy to use and relativelyinexpensive to manufacture.

Still other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an exemplifying embodiment of this invention, from the appended claims and from the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the toy of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing alongsection line 22 of Figure 1; 1

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the toy illustrating the details of construction thereof; and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 in Figure 3 and illustrating the details of the drive mechamsm. J

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral vention which includes a hollow inverted box-like frame 12 including a platform 14, depending side walls 16 and .end walls 18. Mounted on the front end wall 18 is a pair of depending brackets 20 affixed thereto and defining a yoke carrying a transverse axle 22 having a ground engaging front wheel 24 carried thereby for rotation.

Rigidly attached to'platform 14 is an upstanding body 26 having a vertical passage 28 therein for receiving an elongated rod 30 therein. The rod 30 has the upper end screw threadedly engaged with a simulated head 32 disposed in swivel relation to the body 26. The head 32 is provided with a simulated face, 34 and includes an enlarged hat 36 for simulating a fire chief.

' face 34 of the figurine carried by the platform 14 for simulating the action of looking through the glasses.

An upstanding bracket 48 is mounted on the front end wall 18 and extends upwardly for pivotally supporting a bell 50 equipped with a gong engaged by the hand on the arm 40 for ringing the bell in response to movement of the arm 40. Also supported from the frame 12 is a front grill 52 which includes dummy head lights 54 and a laterally extending bracket 56 for supporting a ladder 58.

Extending rearwardly and upwardly from the rear wall 18 is an elongated pusher handle 60 supported by an upturned lower edge 62 on the rear wall 18 and an extension bracket 64 on a reel carrier support 66 which also includes a back rest 68, a lateral bracket 70 for the ladder 58 and a reel 72 carried by pin 74 on which is mounted a 7 rubber hose 76 having a simulated nozzle 78 on the generally designates the push type toy of the present inr free end thereof.

The rear end of the frame 12 is provided with a transverse drive axle 80 journaled in side walls 16 with each end of the axle 80 having a friction drive wheel 82 fixed thereto whereby the axle 80 will be rotated by wheels 82.-

Mounted adjacent the center of the axle 80 is a bevel gear 84 and adjacent one end of the axle 80 is a pulley 86 receiving an endless belt 88. The belt 88 encircles pulley 90 on a transverse shaft 92 journaled in side walls 16 and provided with an offset crank 94 on each end thereof. Each crank 94 is connected with the ankle portion of an articulated leg 96 mounted on a pin 98 connected with body 26. A connecting link .100 connects the knee portion of the legs 96 and the respective arms 40 and 42 for swinging the arms 40 and 42 in response to movement of the wheels82.

Supported from a bracket 102 carried by the reel carrier 66 is a bevel gear 104 in meshing engagement with gear 84. The gear 104 is carried by and drives a vertical shaft 106 having a circular plate 108 on the upper end thereof, with the plate 108 having an upstanding pin 110 disposed eccentrically thereon. A fork member 112 is mounted on the hooked end 38 of the rod 30 with an aperture receiving the shank of the rod and another aperture receiving the free end of the hook. The outer end of the'member 112 is provided with a longitudinal slot 114 receiving the pin 110 whereby the member 112, rod 30 and head 32 will oscillate as the wheels 82 are rotated which also causes the arms 40 and 42 to ring the bell 50 and raise and lower the field glasses 46 in timed relation to oscillation of the head 32 about a vertical axis.

As the toy is pushed along the surface, the Wheels 82 will cause vertical swinging movement of the arms and legs and oscillation of the head in timed relation whereby the field glasses will approach the eyes on the head when they are raised. The arm may actually strike the bell to ring the same if desired and the entire device is attractively decorated and will operate when being pushed or pulled. The figurine closely simulates an actual fire. chief and creates a novel action and which may be constructed of plastic, metal, wood or the like'but preferably from plastic which may be colored in any suitable manner.

It is understood that this invention is not confined to the particular embodiment shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that this invention may be carried out in other ways within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of this invention as it is obvious that the particular embodiment shown and described is only one of the many that may be employed to attain the objects of this invention.

I claim: 7

l. A toy comprising a box-like frame, a plurality of wheels rotatably journaled on the frame and movably supporting said frame, two of said wheels mounted at the rear of said frame and one of said wheels carried by ;an axle mounted in a yoke type bracket at the forward end of said frame, a figurine carried by said frame andsiinulating a fire chief, an elongated handle attached to the frame 3 4 for manipulation of the toy, said figurine including a body afiixed to the frame, ahead mounted on the body for oscillation about a generally vertical axis, a pair of legs pivotally mounted on the body for swinging movement in a vertical plane, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on the body for swinging movement in avertical plane, a connecting rod extending between the arm and leg on each side of the body, a bell supported by said frame for engagement by oneof said arms for ringing thereof, and means connected with the two rear wheels for causing movement of the legs, arms and head and ringing of the bell in response to movement of the toy along a supporting surface; wherein the other arm is provided with a pair of simulated field glasses for positioning in alignment with the eyes on the head when the other arm is raised; wherein the rear wheels includes a pair of traction wheels inter connected by an .axle journalcd on the rear portion of the frame, a transverse shaft'journaled on the forward portion of the frame in spaced relation to the axle, a pulley mounted upon said transverse shaft, a pulley mounted upon the rear axle, an offset crank on each end of the transverse shaft, a link connecting each of the cranks to a leg, and belt drive means interconnecting the axle and shaft, said belt drive means encircling both of said pulleys to effect movement of said transverse shaft; wherein said axle is provided with a bevel gear, a meshing bevel gear supported by said frame, a plate supported on the meshing bevel gear, an eccentric pin mounted vertically upon the plate, said figurine body having a vertical passage therein, a rod rigidly connected with the head and extending through the passage, the lower end of said rod'being U- shaped, and means interconnecting the lower U-shaped end of the rod and the vertical pin for oscillating the rod affixed to the frame, a head mounted on the body for oscillation about agenerally vertical axis, a pair of legs pivotally mounted on the body for swinging movement in a vertical plane, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on the body for swinging movement in a vertical plane, a connecting rod extending between the arm and leg on each side of the body, a bell supported by said frame for engagement by one of said arms for ringing thereof, and means connected with certain of said wheels for causing movement of the legs, arms and head and ringing of the bell in response to movement of the toy along a supporting surface; wherein the other arm is provided with a pair of simulated field glasses for positioning in alignment with the eyes on the head when the other arm is raised; wherein the plurality of wheels includes a pair of traction wheels interconnected by an'axle journaled on the a frame, a transverse shaft journaled on the frame in spaced relation to the axle, an offset crank on each end of the shaft, a link connecting each of the cranks to a leg and belt drive means interconnecting the axle and shaft; wherein said axle is provided with a bevel gear, a meshing bevel gear supported by the frame, a plate supported on the meshing bevel gear, an eccentric pin mounted on the plate, said figurine body having a vertical passage therein, a rod rigidly connected with the head and extending through the passage, and means interconnecting the lower end of the rod and the pin for oscillating the rod and head in response to rotational movement of the traction wheels.

3. A toy comprising a frame, a plurality of wheels rotatably journaled on the frame and movably supporting said frame, a figurine carried by said frame and simulating a fire chief, an elongated handle attached to the frame for manipulation of the toy, said figurine including a body affixed to the frame, a head mounted on the body for oscillation about a generally vertical axis, a pair of legs pivotally mounted onv the'body for swinging movement in a vertical plane, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on the body for swinging movement in a vertical plane, a connecting rod extending between the arm and leg on each side of the body, a bell supported by said, frame for engagement by one of said arms for ringing thereof, and means connected with certain of said wheels for causing movement of the legs, arms and head and ringing of the bell in response to movement of the toy along a supporting surface; wherein the other arm is provided with a pair of simulated field glasses for-positioning in alignment with the eyes on the head when the other arm is raised; wherein the plurality of wheels includes a pair of traction wheels interconnected by an axle journaled on the frame, a transverse shaft journaled on the frame in spaced relation to the axle, an offset crank on each end of the shaft,

-a link connecting each of the cranks to a leg and belt drive means interconnecting the axle and shaft; wherein said axle is provided with a bevel gear, a meshing bevel gear supported by the frame, a plate supported on the meshing bevel gear, an eccentric pin mounted on the plate, said figurine body having a vertical passage therein, a rod rigidly connected with the head and extending through the passage, and means interconnecting the lower end of the rod and the pin for oscillating the rod and head in response to rotational movement of the traction wheels; wherein said means includes a fork member aflixed to the lower end of the rod, said fork member having a longitudinally extending slot receiving said pin whereby rotation of the plate will oscillate the fork member and head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 833,157 Dorsey Oct. 16, 1906 1,506,526 Hornastaj Aug. 26, 1924 2,016,782 Heppner Oct. 8, 1935 2,069,181 Fisher Jan. 26, 1937 2,758,415 Gibson Aug. 14, 1956 

